Developing and Adapting Suicide Prevention Tools for Adults in Detention and Detention Professionals

What this Trial Is About

People in detention face a much higher risk of suicide than the general population, with rates in Belgian prisons being five times higher than average. The study focuses on improving suicide prevention in detention by adapting three proven tools the Safety Plan, a guideline for care and evaluation of suicidality, and the Risk Formulation template. These tools are being evaluated to better suit the unique challenges of prison life. The study uses a co-creation process involving interviews with 40 participants 20 detained individuals and 20 professionals working in detention settings such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and nurses. Detained individuals will be interviewed once focusing on the Safety Plan, while professionals may participate in up to three interviews about all three tools. Feedback from these interviews will help tailor the tools for practical use in prisons. Participants will take part in semi-structured interviews conducted at the prison, where researchers will assess usability, clarity, and how well the tools fit with detention realities. The main outcome is the evaluation of these suicide prevention tools based on participant feedback during the interviews. The goal is to offer better, scientifically grounded support for both staff and people in detention to improve suicide prevention practices.

Co-creation of Tools for People in Detention With Suicidal Thoughts and/or Behavior